Shift Turnover Strategy and Time in Aviation Maintenance

Abstract

Ineffective shift turnover strategies are a contributing factor in aviation accidents and incidents that involve shared maintenance tasks between shifts. Furthermore, a constant demand for available aircraft places time pressure on technicians to complete these tasks. This study examined the effect of shift turnover strategy and time pressure on error capture, accuracy, and completion time of a shared maintenance task between two maintenance shift technicians. Forty aviation maintenance students completed a maintenance task while subjected to conditions of shift turnover strategy and time pressure. The researchers measured three levels of performance; i.e., skill-based errors, trigger event errors, and task completion time. Results indicate that the face-to-face shift turnover strategy was significantly more effective in preventing trigger event errors than the written strategy. Additionally, technicians under time pressure completed the task significantly faster than technicians without time pressure. Results support the need of face-toface shift turnovers within aviation maintenance procedures.